The Nigerian Communications Commission has slammed a fine of N136 million on mobile network operators Airtel and 9mobile.
The two mobile operators incurred the wrath of the NCC for flouting regulations which include the illegal automatic renewal of date subscription, unauthorized disconnection of an interconnect carrier and breaking the Do-Not-Disturb directive.
Following this year’s first quarter enforcement report of the NCC, Airtel erred by disconnecting an interconnect carrier, Exchange Telecommunications Limited, without getting the required regulatory approval. The operator is to pay a total fine of N121m for this infraction.
The enforcement report reads, “Airtel Networks Limited, having contravened the provisions of the Quality of Service Regulations, 2013 and Enforcement Processes Regulations, 2005 by disconnecting Exchange Telecommunications Limited without the commission’s approval, was sanctioned on March 28, 2019, to pay the sum of N121m to the commission.”
The NCC also revealed that 9mobile committed a regulatory offense for placing subscribers who had opted for full DND on Value Added Service (VAS). Airtel also committed the same offense. Both operators were fined N5m each for the offense that affected 13 subscribers of 9mobile and 56 Airtel customers.
According to the dictates of the law, once the 2442 Do-Not-Disturb short-code has been activated by subscribers, they cannot be inundated with unsolicited text messages. Also, networks that stray in this regard risk being fined once offended consumers report to the regulator using a toll-free line.
There is also a penalty of a fine should a mobile operator put subscribers on automatic renewal of data subscription without their consent.
The fines are parts of efforts made by the regulatory body to protect consumers from unnecessary exploitations from the mobile operators.
